A Great Wilderness

Walt has devoted his life to "curing" teenage boys of their homosexuality at his remote Idaho wilderness camp. Pressured to accept one last client, his life begins to unravel with the arrival of Daniel.

Settings Of Play - The common room of a decaying camp on the outskirts of a Wilderness area in Idaho. There are full boxes everywhere, much of the space has been packed up. Only essential furniture remains, along with some camping gear, books including several numbered Bibles, a television, etc. A hallway leads to other bedrooms and a bathroom, a kitchen occupies a section of the stage.

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College Theatre / Student, Community Theatre, Professional Theatre, Large Stage, Blackbox / Second Stage /Fringe Groups

Samuel D. Hunter is the recipient of a 2014 MacArthur "Genius Grant" FellowshipSamuel D. Hunter is the 2012 recipient of the Whiting Award for Drama

After decades as the gentle-natured leader of a
Christian retreat that endeavors to “cure” gay teens, Walt is packing up
his life and preparing for a reluctant retirement. But when his final
client quietly disappears into the remote Idaho wilderness, Walt
discovers that his previously unwavering moral compass no longer points
the way. With profound humanity and subtlety, A Great Wilderness navigates complex moral terrain, exploring the shifting motives and inconstant strength of our personal convictions.

REVIEWS

"Hunter, an Idaho-bred playwright of growing prominence, tunes into a high frequency of empathy for isolated social fringe-dwellers." - Seattle Times, Read More

"[An] affecting drama that strengthens its hold on you bit by unpredictable bit." - Boston Globe, Read More

Samuel D. Hunter’s plays include The Whale (Drama Desk Award, Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play, GLAAD Media Award, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle nominations for Best Play), A Bright New Boise (Obie Award, Drama Desk nomination for Best Play), The Few, A Great Wilderness, Rest, Pocatello, Lewiston, Clarkston, and most recently, The Healing and The Harvest. He is the recipient of ... view full profile